DeKeyser to Western Michigan

Congratulations are due to former Trail Smoke Eater Danny DeKeyser who has committed to Western Michigan in the NCAA. Last season's Smokies defenceman of the year has earned that elusive Div 1 scholarship that so many terrific junior players are after. It's also a perfect fit for Danny as the school is only two and a half hours away from his family home. It couldn't happen to a more deserving young man.

DeKeyser was one of at least 10 BCHL level defencemen in Trail's training camp last season. He came from being a relative unknown in these parts to earning a spot among the eight guys who broke out of camp on the back end. Danny and the other rookies in that group each took their turns sitting out some games early. It didn't appear that he was necessarily going to emerge from the pack.

After those first few weeks of the season DeKeyser never sat again. He especially emerged as a force when an injury put Brandon Clark out of the line-up. Clark had been the obvious leader of Trail's back end early in the season and was at the time likely the team's MVP. When Clark went down a lot of ice time opened up and DeKeyser stepped up to prove he was one of the top young players in the league. He finished the year with 8 goals and 17 assists, but the majority of those points were scored as his game evolved in the second half of the year.

Danny was a pleasure to watch last season and everyone who watched him play knew it was only a matter of time before the scholarship offers came his way. DeKeyser chose to play closer to home this season in the USHL where he has 4 points in 7 games. However, I'd say his year in Trail was what woke up the hockey world to how much potential the Michigan native has. As Danny's game continues to grow this season in the USHL and he continues to mature physically, I believe he'll be a player to watch in the NCAA.

That whole back end from last season has made tremendous strides. DeKeyser is the first of the 08 rookies to line-up a scholarship, but it won't be long before guys like Koshey, Strukoff, Zmurchyk, Reardon and Smutek get those calls coming in. I also certainly expect Patrick Raley (who while technically not a rookie was like a whole new player last season compared to when we first saw him) to find his way to college opportunities. They were all part of a very exciting run to 11th spot in the national rankings last fall. It's just to bad that some key injuries pulled the rug out from under that team.

Congratulations to Danny and his family. All their hard work and dedication over the years has paid off. An opportunity like this means that no matter what happens in hockey, Danny is setting himself up for life. That's what this is all about.

Lidster Interviews

(Lidster with Salmon Arm - Photo Randy Emery)

I'm on holidays this week so it took me a little longer to get the interviews up. Here's Lidster discussing the trade and his career. I also talked to Jim Ingram about the motivation behind the deal. He also talked about losing Jayson Reardon and Jeff Zmurchyk in separate deals.

Colin Lidster on Mountain FM's Overtime

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Jim Ingram on the Lidster for Reardon deal

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NOTES

...After I recently mentioned that Quesnel might want to hurray up and hire a coach they almost immediately announced the hiring of their new bench boss. I take full credit for the announcement. Seriously though, Glen Watson sounds like a very experienced and accomplished Coach and General Manager at the Junior A level. Good luck to him in Quesnel.

...I know a few of the Smoke Eaters are having a fun time talking trash about the Stanley Cup finals. Off the top of my head I know that Steve Koshey and Danny DeKeyser are both big Red Wings fans while Travis St. Denis is a Penguins backer. Stats and photo guru Randy Emery is also one of the biggest Pittsburgh fans I know. So far it looks like Steve and Danny have the bragging rights. Don't forget though that the Penguins were down 2-0 in their series against Washington too. I've never seen a team get fewer bounces than Pittsburgh has so far in the series. The Wings are hard enough to beat when luck is on your side!

...Since I'm on holidays this week we're airing a "best of" Overtime every night. Wednesday is a Smokies 08-09 year in review show. Tune in from 6pm to 10pm on Mountain FM.

Smokies trade Reardon for Lidster, Zmurchyk to Merritt

(Lidster and Reardon)

The Trail Smoke Eaters have made a deal with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Trail sent 1990 born defenceman Jayson Reardon to the Silverbacks for big 1989 born forward Colin Lidster. Lidster is listed at 6'4 and 225lbs. He's committed to play for Quinnipiac after next season so perhaps he and fellow future Quinnipiac star Travis St. Denis can get to know each other pretty well and develop some chemistry over this season.

My first impression is that Lidster is a player with a lot of potential who can contribute more than he has offensively if he's given a bigger opportunity to do it. In talking to Lidster today he also believes that he has a lot more to offer, but it's up to him to play with more consistency and emotion game in and game out.

Of note, Lidster is the son of former Vancouver Canuck Doug Lidster.

As for Reardon, he had some rookie struggles like everyone else on the team. However, Jayson really improved his play and decision making as the season progressed. He's a strong and physical player who is at his best when he's throwing his body around. Reardon didn't do much offensively last year, but he will be a strong stay at home option for the Silverbacks.

He's also got a big shot that we didn't see enough of in Trail. Reardon will drop the mits to stand up for the boys as well. Backs fans will like what they see when he throws that purple uniform on. He's a quiet but hard working, classy player. Reardon also has a lot of potential to become a real force in the BCHL. He'll get an opportunity to do that closer to home in Salmon Arm. Good luck Jayson!

Smokies Coach and GM Jim Ingram will join me on Mountain FM's Overtime tonight to discuss the deal. Lidster will be on the show tomorrow night. We're on from 6pm to 10pm at 104.1 FM in Trail. I'll have more information and analysis later.

ZMURCHYK TO MERRITT


(Zmurchyk)

The Smokies also shipped 1990 born defenceman Jeff Zmurchyk to Merritt as the future considerations in the Scott Jacklin trade. Check out Brian's post on the Making Cents blog. Zmurchyk also didn't contribute much offensively as a rookie defenceman, but the Fernie native showed a lot of improvement especially late in the season. The biggest difference in Jeff from October to February appeared to be confidence. Once he got some of it his game improved tremendously. Zmurchyk is a very smooth skater who has a good first pass and made smart, simple decisions when he was playing well. He's never put up a ton of points whether it's with Trail or with Fernie in the KIJHL. Jeff generally seems to lean towards making the safe play rather than taking a risk.

The 19 year old showed his versatility when the Smokies were battling some injury concerns and Zmurchyk was able to move up and play forward. He showed a lot of battle and grit when playing up front. While Zmurchyk didn't seem to have a lot of finish around the net, he caused some havoc and created a lot of chances.

I think Jeff will be a calming presence on the Merritt blue line and someone who will benefit from some additional responsibility in a new setting. He's got a year under his belt and he'll be a reliable member of the Cents. Good luck Jeff!

Zmurchyk and Reardon were usually two of the quieter players on the bus rides, but they're both class acts. They're not flashy players but I think both Salmon Arm and Merritt should be confident they're getting players who will get the job done.

I've heard word that the Smokies have a lot of very interesting new defencemen coming to camp in August. There won't be any shortage of options available when trying to replace Jeff and Jayson come fall. I've heard a few names but I'll leave any talk about those players specifically to the team.

Captain Bulach

Congratulations to Ryan Bulach. Today the Smoke Eaters made it official, he's the next captain in the storied history of Trail hockey. Bulach will have big shoes to fill. Kevin Limbert's work ethic and dedication was known throughout hockey circles. Those are the exact characteristics that Coach Jim Ingram says make Bulach an ideal captain. Ingram says Ryan's passion for the game is obvious from the gym to the rink. With Bulach as the captain the bar will be set high. His work ethic, his enthusiasm and his passion will set the tone for the rest of the team.

I've never seen Bulach be particularly vocal. However, it's something that Ingram says he does more behind closed doors. It's also something he'll have to do more of now that he's been given the torch of leadership for the Smokies. This is a player, not unlike Limbert, who has had to work hard for everything he's achieved in hockey. No one handed him anything, he earned it. He's also a hell of a card player and I owe him a loss or two. Congratulations to Captain Ryan Bulach, I know he'll do the team proud.

TOMORROW ON OVERTIME

• We're live from the weight in for AM Ford Fight Night. We'll be on location at the Rock Cut in Rossland. I don't think I can ever hear about the Rock Cut without thinking about how one of the younger guys on the team could never remember where it was. Braden Kinnebrew really let him have it the last time he asked about it. Do I actually miss long bus rides yet? They have great steak there by the way. Try them with ketchup like I always do... and get ripped for!
• The live on location means we'll be talking to all the fighters and previewing the big night on Saturday. By the way, I won't be actually ring announcing at the event. That was a misunderstanding, instead I'll be doing some announcing in between fights. You can still feel free to show up and throw things at me.

INTERVIEW AUDIO

• Jim Ingram on naming Ryan Bulach captain of the Smokies
• New Smoke Eater Jayson Reardon Part 1
• New Smoke Eater Jayson Reardon Part 2
• AM Ford Fight Night Profile: Wesley "Snipes" Neil
• My fake ring introduction for a fight between Mountain FM's morning team

Have a good one, hope to see you at the Rock Cut or AM Ford Fight Night this weekend!